Skip to main content
WhenToVisitParks

Death Valley National Park in September

Average0.9× average month · best-time score 35/100

September at Death Valley National Park averages a daytime high near 105°F and an overnight low around 79°F. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes September an average month here.

Average low
79°F
Average high
105°F

Range across the year: 41°F to 115°F

Crowds
0.9× averageAverage
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
Precipitation
0.0 in
Daylight
12.2 hours

Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in September: about 103,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes September the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.4×) and the June low (0.7×).

On our Best Time to Visit score September rates 35/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is January: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

The daily average of about 92°F is hot, with afternoons near 105°F to plan the day around. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park.

Because June, July and August together draw about 22% of annual visitors, choosing September instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 12.2 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,320,134 recreation visits, down 8.4% from 1,440,484 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 18.3%, so September may feel a touch quieter than it once did.

How September compares with the months around it

MonthAvg high / lowCrowdsBest-time score
August113°F / 87°F1.0× Average34 Poor
September105°F / 79°F0.9× Average35 Poor
October89°F / 65°F1.0× Average54 Fair

All twelve months at Death Valley, with the best time to visit.

Things to do at Death Valley in September

The National Park Service tags 11 Death Valley activities for fall. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.

Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

September averages a daytime high near 105°F and an overnight low around 79°F at Death Valley National Park. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.

September is average at Death Valley National Park (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 35/100. Our recommended month is January.

The busiest month is March and the quietest is June. September sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.

A typical September sees about 103,000 recreation visits at Death Valley National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.

Where to stay near Death Valley in September

Booking a September trip to Death Valley National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live September availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Death Valley

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Visiting Death Valley in September?

Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Death Valley by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in September.

Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.